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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2014 0:36:08 GMT -5
Actually, it makes a lot of sense that a memory upgrade would help. Given the age of the system you're describing and the amount of total memory you have, that probably has a lot to do with your sluggishness. I went back and read your original message and I must have missed it the first time when I read it, but just now caught that you said you were maxing out at 1.6 gigs. I'm currently running Windows 7 on a 3 year old machine with 4 gigs installed, and I'm at a little over 2 gigs with several Chrome tabs open and a few background applications. More than likely it's just the newer versions of the software you're running demand more resources than your machine can provide. Yep. Amazingly enough, the machine was getting by on 512 mb only three years ago and worked like a dream. I sometimes think these software developers are paid to intentionally make their upgrades demand more resources, thus pushing people to keep buying new computers. I've seen plenty of unnecessary upgrades to both software and websites. For the longest time I kept a Firefox 2.0 theme on my newer versions of Firefox because I just liked it better. |
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ironchimp
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Post by ironchimp on Nov 27, 2014 1:22:10 GMT -5
Randle-el is right - i'm on windows 8 and with only google and 3 tabs open its using 1.9gb.
That's most likely why your pc has slowed to a near halt. not enough grunt.
i dont know if pc will use harddrive as a temp memory but could try defragging hard drive too.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Nov 27, 2014 1:26:22 GMT -5
Randle-el is right - i'm on windows 8 and with only google and 3 tabs open its using 1.9gb. I'm going to choose to wear this as a badge of honor. I keep my computer so well honed that I can still stream Netflix on it with only 2 GB of memory onboard  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2014 1:33:02 GMT -5
I have 16gb of ram
I stream Hulu on my 1st gen iPad though, that thing can't have a whole lot of power
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2014 7:09:56 GMT -5
If coldwater stops posting, we will know Bill Gates secret police have come and taken her for advising someone use something other than windows...such behavior is not tolerated in the Windows World Order!  -M I think Bill Gates stopped caring a long time ago  Truly, Microsoft has been panicking for the last few years. The rise of the smart phone has eliminated the need for many folks to have a home computer. Folks like us, who use our machines for more than facebook and e-mail, still couldn't live without desktops, but many (my wife, for example) absolutely could and do. I have to use a desktop computer. I fumble and fail at putting passwords in on my phone. I do not truly trust the security of phones |
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ironchimp
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Post by ironchimp on Nov 27, 2014 11:25:24 GMT -5
I have 16gb of ram I stream Hulu on my 1st gen iPad though, that thing can't have a whole lot of power its more the amount of memory you have than the processor for a lot of things unless you are doing video editing or computer games where huge amounts of data are being pushed around and having calculations applied to them. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Dec 1, 2014 21:26:38 GMT -5
So those 8gb of memory arrived today and I gleefully inserted them into my computer. Mind you, I do still have a concussion and don't think as clearly as I think I do. So I thought I did a fine job only to have my computer completely unable to power up after that. Switched back the memory, but it made no difference. Then a small copper piece fell out of the computer casing from God knows where.
Uh-oh.
I've since rigged up my even slower laptop to my monitor and keyboard just so that I don't feel utterly lost without my desktop, but it's so jarring. Not only is this computer slower, but the sound card annihilated itself last summer when I ran my audio output jack into my amplifier and cranked up the volume. No sound, sluggish performance, and settings that just don't quite look/feel right. I'm ready to cringe in the corner and suck my thumb.
As for my desktop, I'll have to take it to a shop and have some know-it-all who actually knows nothing putter around with it, sell me parts I don't actually need, and give me sub-standard material with no warranty so that my computer will never run quite as well again.
Le sigh.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2014 21:28:50 GMT -5
So those 8gb of memory arrived today and I gleefully inserted them into my computer. Mind you, I do still have a concussion and don't think as clearly as I think I do. So I thought I did a fine job only to have my computer completely unable to power up after that. Switched back the memory, but it made no difference. Then a small copper piece fell out of the computer casing from God knows where. Uh-oh. I've since rigged up my even slower laptop to my monitor and keyboard just so that I don't feel utterly lost without my desktop, but it's so jarring. Not only is this computer slower, but the sound card annihilated itself last summer when I ran my audio output jack into my amplifier and cranked up the volume. No sound, sluggish performance, and settings that just don't quite look/feel right. I'm ready to cringe in the corner and suck my thumb. As for my desktop, I'll have to take it to a shop and have some know it all who actually knows nothing putter around with it, sell me parts I don't actually need, and give my sub-standard material with no warranty so that my computer will never run quite as well again. Le sigh. Party like your computer's from 1999....awoo (do a little Prince dance...) -M |
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Post by Randle-El on Dec 2, 2014 1:01:15 GMT -5
What does the copper piece look like? Do you have a picture of it?
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Dec 2, 2014 1:04:44 GMT -5
What does the copper piece look like? Do you have a picture of it? Quarter of an inch by eigth of an inch flat metal piece with two folded tabs, almost making a "C". I'll post a pic tomorrow. |
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ironchimp
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Post by ironchimp on Dec 2, 2014 1:20:31 GMT -5
So those 8gb of memory arrived today and I gleefully inserted them into my computer. Mind you, I do still have a concussion and don't think as clearly as I think I do. So I thought I did a fine job only to have my computer completely unable to power up after that. Switched back the memory, but it made no difference. Then a small copper piece fell out of the computer casing from God knows where. Uh-oh. I've since rigged up my even slower laptop to my monitor and keyboard just so that I don't feel utterly lost without my desktop, but it's so jarring. Not only is this computer slower, but the sound card annihilated itself last summer when I ran my audio output jack into my amplifier and cranked up the volume. No sound, sluggish performance, and settings that just don't quite look/feel right. I'm ready to cringe in the corner and suck my thumb. As for my desktop, I'll have to take it to a shop and have some know-it-all who actually knows nothing putter around with it, sell me parts I don't actually need, and give me sub-standard material with no warranty so that my computer will never run quite as well again. Le sigh. you'd be better just buying a new computer in my opinion - you could probably get a new box for $400-500. take the hard drive out of the old box put a case on it for a couple of $ and hook it up to you USB to get all your data onto your new pc. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Dec 2, 2014 6:11:13 GMT -5
So those 8gb of memory arrived today and I gleefully inserted them into my computer. Mind you, I do still have a concussion and don't think as clearly as I think I do. So I thought I did a fine job only to have my computer completely unable to power up after that. Switched back the memory, but it made no difference. Then a small copper piece fell out of the computer casing from God knows where. Uh-oh. I've since rigged up my even slower laptop to my monitor and keyboard just so that I don't feel utterly lost without my desktop, but it's so jarring. Not only is this computer slower, but the sound card annihilated itself last summer when I ran my audio output jack into my amplifier and cranked up the volume. No sound, sluggish performance, and settings that just don't quite look/feel right. I'm ready to cringe in the corner and suck my thumb. As for my desktop, I'll have to take it to a shop and have some know-it-all who actually knows nothing putter around with it, sell me parts I don't actually need, and give me sub-standard material with no warranty so that my computer will never run quite as well again. Le sigh. you'd be better just buying a new computer in my opinion - you could probably get a new box for $400-500. take the hard drive out of the old box put a case on it for a couple of $ and hook it up to you USB to get all your data onto your new pc. I hate moving to new machines, especially when I don't have to. I'm hoping I can get this fixed for under $100. The new memory should have this thing running smoothly for a few years yet to come if I can just get this new problem repaired. |
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Post by Randle-El on Dec 2, 2014 11:35:04 GMT -5
What does the copper piece look like? Do you have a picture of it? Quarter of an inch by eigth of an inch flat metal piece with two folded tabs, almost making a "C". I'll post a pic tomorrow. Actually, forget the picture of the piece that fell out. I'd much rather see a picture of you cringing in the corner sucking your thumb. |
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Post by DE Sinclair on Dec 2, 2014 16:13:44 GMT -5
What does the copper piece look like? Do you have a picture of it? Quarter of an inch by eigth of an inch flat metal piece with two folded tabs, almost making a "C". I'll post a pic tomorrow. Could it have come from the memory slot from when you tried to put in the memory? If it's one of the contacts from the memory slot, the system board would need to be replaced. Which could mean the other peripherals, video cards, etc, may not be compatible and would have to replaced as well. Considering the age of the computer, you very well may end up with replacing it with a new computer being the better option. |
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ironchimp
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Post by ironchimp on Dec 2, 2014 17:01:08 GMT -5
I think des is right - its the contact in memory socket
obviously we dont know your system but bear in mind that some operating systems will only allow 4gb anyway
and not all memory is compatible with all motherboards
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